Introduction
6th Grade: Washington Middle School
Representing your country as an Olympic athlete is a great honor. Olympic athletes are filled with pride, ambition, and drive. They face many difficult challenges, and make many sacrifices along the way. However, they give everything they have to be part of such an extraordinary experience. The Olympic games represent a long standing tradition, and is the most widely recognized international sporting event in history. How and where did this phenomenon begin? What would it feel like to actually take part in the Olympic games?
You will research Ancient Greece and the history of the Olympic games. You will then compare and contrast the Olympic games of Ancient Greece to the present-day Olympic games, focusing on the experience of the athletes.
Task
This webquest will allow you and your teammates to experience the Olympics in dynamic and exciting ways! Your focus will be on the Olympic experience through the eyes of the athletes. Not only will you be learning about the Olympics, but you will also "time travel" back to the birth of the Olympics during Ancient Greek times. You will experience the games as an athlete during that time period. Then you will travel back to "present day" Olympics to understand them as an athlete. You will be asked to work on a number of tasks on this quest, that will give you the information you need to complete your journey successfully. Do not worry, on-line resource links have been provided for your use!
One of the main activities will be the web-scavenger-hunt! You and your team will be able to search and gather information on the Olympic games-- during Ancient Greek times and the present day. Your final group task will be to create a reinactment or visual of a game you would like to see in the next Olympics. The game you create should be based on what you have learned about ancient Olympic games. Be creative and have fun!
Process
Consider yourself as an athletic time traveler! Experience the wonder of returning to Ancient Greece to discover the original Olympics.
Travel Back in Time to Ancient Greece
Task 1-- Journal
Write in your "journal" (get a piece of white paper and label it "Journal #1) at least 12 differences between your various characters. I suggest making a "T chart".)
You may use the following links below to discover your new surroundings. There are more links at the bottom of this page.
Task 2--Festivals and Games Scavenger Hunt
You will be able to collaborate with your group to answer the following questions (please put on a word doc. and share with team members):
1. Where were the Ancient Greek Olympics held?
2. Why did they create the original "Olympics"?
3. How long did the original "Olympics" last?
4. How many "Sporting Events" took place during these games?
5. List the "Sporting Events":
6. What "Sporting Events" would be considered the same today?
7. What does the word "pentathlon" mean?
8. What would the "Athletes" receive for winning?
9. What does "sacrifice" mean?
10. What did they "sacrifice" and to whom and why?
11. What "Sporting Event" was new to you? Would you like to participate in it? Why or Why not? (Each group member must answer.)
12. What else stood out for you about the "Ancient Greek Olympics" and why?
13. Who was allowed to participate in the Olympics?
Festivals & Games in Ancient Greece
Welcome Back from your Travels! Now you will discover current day Olympics as an athlete. Remember to keep an open-mind as you explore this global event.
Task 3: The "Present-Day" Olympic Games Scavenger Hunt
You will be able to collaborate with your group members on this scavenger hunt (please put on a word doc. and share with team members):
1. How many Olympics are held today?
2. When are they held?
3. How many countries participate?
4. Who is able to participate in the Olympics?
5. How long do the Olympics last?
6. How many events are in the "Summer Olympics"?
7. List the events in the "Summer Olympics".
8. How many events sound like the Ancient Greek Olympics?
9. What do the winners receive if they win?
10. What event most interests you? Why? (Each member should answer.)
11. Draw a Venn Diagram and compare "Ancient Olympics vs Modern Olympics" (you can do this on your word doc. or on paper). Describe and document what you discovered creating the Venn Diagram.
Task 5: Create a potential game- Details for this are on Canvas.
Evaluation
Rubric is on Canvas along with instructions.
Conclusion
Great work!! With the help of your fellow classmates, you have completed your research, discussed your findings, and put together a potential game for modern day Olympics.
As we have all learned together, times have changed. Although we found many similarities between the Olympic games that took place in Ancient Greece and those that take place today, many differences were apparent as well. The overall experience tries to hold on to tradition while at the same time allowing for changes that naturally occur due to a variety of circumstances.
For those of you interested in further study, please explore the following sites. You may find them interesting!
http://greece.mrdonn.org/olympics.html
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/
http://library.thinkquest.org/J002862/main.htm